Special solar energy council setup by Ministry of new and renewable energy

NEW DELHI: Ministry of new and renewable energy has constituted solar energy industry advisory council (SEIAC) to advice it on various technology related matters, attracting investments across the value chain, suggest steps required to encourage R&D and drive down costs and make the Indian solar industry globally competitive.

Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and MD, Mahindra&Mahindra, has been named as the chairman of the council.

Assuring the support of industry to the national solar mission, Mahindra said, "The council would deliberate and offer advice on technology matters, manufacturing, investments and fiscal policies that are critical for the growth of the solar industry in India."

The other leading industrialists on the panel of the council are Jamshyd N. Godrej, R V Kanoria, Meher Pudumjee, Vineet Mittal and Ratul Puri. The council will also review the status of Indian solar industry from time to time and suggest measures required and a road map to accelerate the growth to achieve manufacturing level of about 4-5 GWeq per year by 2017-2020. Addressing the first meeting of SEIAC, union minister for new and renewable energy, Farooq Abdullah called upon the industry leaders to invest in solar projects in India.